Wednesday, December 29, 2010

A Sweet for My Sweet - Lollipop Cards marked Erco - E Rosen Co


Hi Cutie! Guess we're in the same boat now.

4 1/4" x 5 1/4"
circa 1950s
Lollipop Card
by E Rosen Company

 Hi Lovebird! Have a SWEET Valentine!
4 1/4" x 5 1/4"
circa 1950s/1960s
Erco Candies
Lollipop Card

Just LOADED with Love for You.

4 1/8" x 5 1/4"
Lollipop Card
made by Erco


ERCO is likely a shortening for the E Rosen Co of Rhode Island. E Rosen has been in business since around 1911 and have produced a number of fun plastic collectibles as well as their wonderful lollipop cards.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

I'm Buster Brown, and I live in a shoe. ♥♥♥♥

That's my dog, Tige, and he lives there, too. ♥


My Valentine, Valentine

6 5/8" x 4"
circa 1920s
die-cut mechanical
Buster Brown Styled Child and Cat
by Richard Felton Outcault

Outcault created the first merchandised, comic strip character with his Yellow Kid from the Hogan's Alley strip of the 1890s.  Buster Brown came along in 1902.  This character can be found on many items - most famously on the Brown Shoe Companies' shoes, often accompanied with Tige, his dog. Some of the other child characters Outcault drew on valentines featured children with chin-length hair and hats with up-turned brims - just like Buster.


You can't believe how pleased I would be if you would be My Valentine. What a chance.

5 1/2" x 3 1/2"
dated 1907
Postcard
by Raphael Tuck
 Series 106



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Companies Outcault is known to have worked for (list is not to be considered complete):


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Sources:

Monday, December 27, 2010

If You've Never Been a Frog Kissin'...


I'd LEAP at the chance to be your Valentine.

4" x 2 1/8"
circa 1960s
Flat
Glitter detailing
no publisher's marks



To One I Love

6 7/8" x 5 3/4" (with mouth opened)
circa 1920s
mechanical mouth
with rotating wheel
made in Germany

Part of a series - click here to view more cards in this series.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Artist Marked: Initials - H. B.




To My Valentine ~ Cupid flies no more they say to this weary world today; But this fact I know is true Cupid brings my heart to you.

1 1/4" x 6 5/8"
circa 1920s
Standing Fold-Out
marked: HB
Valentine ~ To My Valentine!

3 7/8" x 2 3/8" 
circa 1920s, 1930s
girl in green dress and hat
made in Germany
Mechanical Flat
Eyes move
marked H. B. along bottom edge

Valentine Greetings

3 7/8" x 2 3/8" 
circa 1920s, 1930s
sailor
made in Germany
Mechanical Flat
Eyes move
marked H. B. along bottom edge

These big-eyed characters have a lot of personality and nice detailing. The heads are a little large, with small hands. The initials H. B. are likely an artist marking, but could also be a company mark.